Friday, December 7, 2012

I've still got most of my crew trophies, made from silver, pewter, wood,
cotton, and this one which has actually gotten the most mileage by far.
It's spent time in my garage, bookshelf, and summers down below in Bay
Rhumb. Sometimes your least conspicuous possessions
carry the most weight, and this piece is no exception.

Dad and I had a few good years, actually a few really good years

racing the Penguin together before I plain just got too big for the

boat. Here I am, 11 years old and no doubt big for my age but

still shorter than my Dad. Three years later, I would be almost five

inches taller than him, and a bit heavier. From 1969 through '72, we

raced all the BBYRA races, as well as Toms River Fall and Spring

Series, Bay Head Frostbites, New Years Day on Long Island and

Staten Island, a few memorial regattas, Downer regattas,

Metedeconk River Yacht Club Labor Day Handicap Races around

Herring Island. Gibson Island, Tred Avon, Severn River, Miles River,

Choptank, Packanack Lake, Carnegie Lake for God's sake, Gobbler

Bowl, Turkey Bowl, the frickin' Schuylkill (with Carnegie, two of the

most God-awful places to race sailboats, but the best to row boats),

Cooper River, the Delaware, the Potomac (with a thermos of hot

buttered rum for the skipper) Region IIs, ACs, Nationals, and one

Internationals in Babylon NY. A local sailor, Mel Reid, won with

South American sailors in the next few spots. I remember being

glad that an American won, and I'll never forget the trophy

presentation. Somebody put one of those fake rubber puddles

of vomit in the silver bowl that Mel was presented. One of my

most vivid memories. I was 10. Maybe that explains things.

Gibson Island, home of Penguin legend Len Penso. I clearly remember
sailing there, but maybe we didn't do so well, hence the generic no 'place'
designation on the 'trophy'. I chuckle to myself when I think what may have
been the reason that I, as an eight year old, got custody of this ashtray.
It's clear that this trophy has also gotten some serious mileage.
There may have been some foresight involved in the decision.